The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-08-11

asked.
II managed 10 decipher mother. b
tha, was al could make out "You MS,
your left hand noticed. Why do "
mol learn 10 write with you right hand
asked again as thougb,lessly and vii
still sader results.
'0h, know how TO write with that
he answered.
There was no smile nov. and observe
that be did not withdraw bis right ar
from his cspscious pocket
Then why do you not use that hand
! pursued blunderingly.
II left my night hand 10 Leadville, A
explosion took ii of 7"
He had laid the pencil down and locke
very much discouraged st BIS efforts,
longei to make amends for the pain be-
caused him, and 1 went Immediately
the odious little typewriter. saying; "
will write letter on this." Here was
poor man who wanted letter Written I
his poor mother, whom he had not see
for ten years, aud be had no right ham
with which to write his filial love aud dc
votionl / would be his right hand. 70
the time being, at least. ! would lengthe
my wearisome day indefinitely il it woul,
cheer the heart OF poor old anxiou
mother somewhere.
But what's that?" he asked, laying
finger on the magical. little machine.
! explained by showing him sheet Of
type writing. He looked it over, and
handed ii back to me with negative sbak,
Of the head,
mot any fur one, miss" he said depre'
cialingly. "The poor old soul wouldn',
like it. She'd kind OF think it was news
paper work, or something like that, you
see. | w-nt her to have real, genuine
hand.writ letter; more soclable like, you
know"
/ reflected for an instant. could, o.
course, write one for him with pen and
nix. My experience IN penning addresses
ipon tens Of thousands Of envelopes, be-
ore l was promoted TO the dignity Of o
typewriter bad given me mastery over
he pen. 1t was only question rs to
whether l should humor his whim. | de-
,ided in the affirmative. l had dear
rieud somewhere out in the western coun. :.
ry, perhaps miner, too. He had left .
mother and me--to seek his fortune. We
we're very dear friends once, but slight
loud had hidden us from each other.
it'll loved him after all these sad, lone
ONE years, and perhaps be still had 3
lingering love for me; who knows? He
oticed my hesitation, momentary though
was.
ut would please mother so much
Yes, Of course" | interrupted.
/ seized pen and placing sheet OF
ote paper before me, was ready.
81 want it to go something like this, 4" be
egan thoughtfully, Dear old mother"
! melted as traced the lines upon the
aper. The first three words were the
ey to my heart He had opened it. lie
eemed wrestling with some problem, and
tried to encourage him to proceed with
be dictation.
II want it writ kind and tender like;
lst like I'd talk to her il she we're here
ou know"
"Yes, / assented.
"But TO tell it to Q stranger"
"Yes, l understand; but cannot write
for you unless you tell me first what you
ant to say to her." said; and then /
dded; "you can speak freely TO me-. l
ave mother, too. good way from here
nd can imagine l am writing to her,
ou know"
us that so3" be said, with a grateful
mile, and something very much like .
lush overspread his manly, bronzed face.
Then I'll go ahead; | want you to say,
-FOUR boy, who left you about ten years
90. on whose head you laid your dear
and when you gave him your parting
lessing, and told him whatever be did or
herever be went TO always remember
iat that God would take care OF him
if"
/ patiently waited without looking up
II / heard suppressed sob. Then !
Nv that strong roughly clad man choked
ith emotion. and his eyes glistening with
40 fercely suppressed tears.
beg pardon. miss. III go on now
Vould take care Of him il in every time Of
'mptation he would take look at his
Others picture in his pocket. and think
DIV she was praying for him day and
ght. Your 10y will be with you in
,out week, never to leave you again.
ign it John, miss. il you please"
"he uisapPoiutcu ~ tuio Vuuin6'
I'd thought to know bis name at least.
,t knowing then that l should address
'e envelope for hin.
A vague preseDtiment had been gradu.
ly taking possession Of me; feeling
at there was approaching crisis IN my
Te. l ridiculed the idea, and argued
at the man, and his history, was only
incidence with something interwcyen
lth my own life. But In spite Of the
sht manner in which ! tried TO treat the
after, this ghost OF preseniiment re-.
sed, peremptorily, to be exercised. 1t
I'd grown quite dark outside. l had
GIFTED the gas. Ny visitor WAS reading
'er the letter which Lad handed to him,
ter signing it John, the name OF my old
yer; but there are so many Johns 10 the
orld. argued. ! stood 1t the window,
oking at the bridge again in the glory Of
! electric lights. The bells and whis-
- were sending out the welcome sound